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The Armenian Cabinet approved on September 3 the signing of a protocol to launch a simplified customs corridor with Iran.
The government states in the explanatory note to the bill that, in order to apply simplified customs control and customs clearance procedures for law-abiding economic operators and facilitate the process of transporting goods, the Iranian side proposed introducing a “Simplified Customs Corridor” at the Armenian-Iranian border and submitted a relevant draft for this purpose.
Under the proposal, for the purpose of implementing the “Simplified Customs Corridor,” the parties will exchange information electronically, in accordance with the conditions set out in the protocol, on goods, means of transport, and foreign economic activity participants, including carriers and their employees.
The “Simplified Customs Corridor” is intended to apply to those whose activities are characterized by a low risk of violations of customs legislation. The simplifications will apply to all types of means of transport, except for vehicles for personal use, and all types of goods, for Armenian and Iranian entities that voluntarily use the “Simplified Customs Corridor.”
The main objective of introducing the “Simplified Customs Corridor” is to create more favorable conditions for law-abiding participants in foreign economic activity, in particular by speeding up procedures related to customs control and clearance of goods at customs authorities, reducing the number of required documents, and reducing the types and extent of customs control over goods within the risk management system based on the analysis of information received about the goods. These measures will lead to a significant reduction in the time required for the release of goods and waiting time at the border.
“The ongoing modernization of the Meghri border crossing point is also of significant importance in the context of introducing and launching the ‘Simplified Customs Corridor,’ in terms of ensuring the necessary facilities, infrastructure capacity and technical equipment. Therefore, the full implementation of the ‘Simplified Customs Corridor’ will be possible after the completion of the ongoing construction,” the bill states.